chapter-35

Aurthor's pov,

The next day, the soft morning light streamed through the curtains as Pihu woke up, her mind still clouded with the events of the previous night. Rudra, who had been keeping a watchful eye on her from the sofa in the room, was already aware of her movements.

As she attempted to get out of bed, Rudra's deep voice cut through the air."Trying to escape again, Pearl?" he said, his tone a blend of amusement and authority. Pihu froze, caught off guard.

The weight of her recent experiences pressed upon her, causing her pulse to hammer against her ribs, and tears escaped her eyes. Fear surged as she heard his voice. She looked towards him, and her heart thumped against her ribcage as she gazed at Rudra's blank expression.

Pihu tried to say something, but it felt like she didn't know how to express herself as Rudra started coming towards her. Rudra stood in front of her, and there was only a little space between them, almost touching each other. As he looked down and asked her, his voice held an edge, "I asked something, Pihu."

"I..." Pihu stammered, tears rolling down her cheeks. "I just woke up. I didn't... I wasn't trying to escape again." Her voice trembled, barely a whisper in the silence.

Rudra's gaze bore into her, unyielding. Despite her attempt to slip past him, her sprained leg betrayed her. A squeak of imbalance escaped her lips, and in an instant, she grasped Rudra's arm for support.

Rudra, his expression softening, caught her in his arms with a silent understanding. Without a word, he carried her towards the bathroom and gently placed her near the tub. "Call me when you're done," he instructed.

Upon returning, limping from her injury, Rudra sighed, a subtle expression of exasperation on his face. "I told you to call me when you are done," he reminded her, lifting her into his arms and gently placing her on the bed.

As he fetched a spray and medicine, Pihu braced herself for the expected reprimand.To her surprise, Rudra approached with care, a departure from his usual demeanor. He took her sprained legs onto his lap, applying the medicine to her ankle with a gentle touch. The room, usually fraught with tension, now seemed to exhale a momentary peace.

As Rudra continued tending to Pihu's injured ankle, an unexpected silence settled in the room. The rhythmic sound of the spray and the gentle touch of Rudra's hands on her skin created a strangely calming atmosphere. Pihu, still unsure of what to make of this unexpected care, dared a glance at Rudra's face. His usual stern expression had softened, replaced by a focused yet gentle demeanor.

When he finished applying the medicine, Rudra looked up, catching Pihu's gaze. "Better?" he asked, the concern in his voice contrasting with his typically stern tone.

Pihu nodded, unsure of how to respond. The air felt charged with an unspoken tension, and she couldn't shake off the feeling that there was more to Rudra's actions than met the eye.Then, Pihu's eyes caught a sight of red staining Rudra's white shirt.

Concern flashed across her face, and she pointed hesitantly, "Umm, Rudra, your shirt."Rudra followed her gaze and noticed that the gunshot wound on his arm had reopened when he lifted her. He glanced down at the red stain spreading across his shirt, he dismissed by saying "It's nothing."

Pihu, concerned, insisted, "But you are hurt. Let me call a maid. She can bring a doctor."Rudra, in his usual nonchalant manner, replied, "It's not needed. It's just a gunshot. I already checked with the doctor. It just needs redressing."

Hesitating, Pihu asked, "Did you get injured last night when fighting?" She avoided recounting the gruesome scenes from the night before, not wanting to relive the horror.Rudra remained silent, leaving Pihu with unanswered questions.

When she stood up to call Madhu for assistance, Rudra caught her hand and asked playfully, "Where are you going, Pearl?"

Pihu, in her usual reluctant tone, replied, "To call Madhu aunty. She can dress your wound; she told me she helped you before."Rudra, with a mischievous glint in his eyes, teased, "But now, Pearl, when I have you, I don't need anyone else. You just do it."

Pihu, feeling the weight of Rudra's closeness and his teasing words, stammered, "I... I don't know how to do this, Rudra."

Rudra, still holding her firmly, responded in a low, seductive voice, "Don't worry, Pearl. I'll guide you." His mischievous grin only heightened Pihu's unease. As he removed his shirt, Pihu's gaze instinctively lowered, her cheeks flushing as she looks him without shirt.

Reluctantly, Pihu began tending to Rudra's reopened wound, acutely aware of his watchful eyes. The room felt hotter, and each touch, each moment, seemed to carry an electric charge. Rudra, reveling in the control he held, kept his gaze fixed on her, creating an atmosphere that bordered on both tension and temptation.

As she cleaned the wound, Pihu's hands trembled, partly from fear, partly from the unnerving intensity of Rudra's gaze. Rudra, sensing her discomfort, continued to playfully guide her through the process, enjoying the effect he had on her.

With the wound redressed, Rudra remarked, "There, that wasn't so bad, was it?" His tone still carried a flirtatious edge. Pihu, eager to put some distance between them, nodded quickly, avoiding eye contact.

As she tried to step away, Rudra swiftly pulled her towards him, and in an unexpected turn of events, Pihu's lips inadvertently met the bare expanse of Rudra's chest, just above his nipples🤭🤭🤭🤭🤭😏😏. Pihu's eyes widened in shock, and a crimson hue painted her cheeks in embarrassment.

While Rudra felt a current running through his veins, all types of sinful thoughts started running in his mind about his Pearl. He wanted to ravish her beneath him and love her day and night until she started craving him, just like he was craving her. He wanted her to be addicted to him, just as he was.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he imagined those scenes, feeling the magnetic pull of his desires. Pihu, regaining her composure, distanced herself, ready to escape.

However, Rudra, driven by his overpowering desires, pushed her beneath him, hovering above her, and buried his face in her neck, attempting to calm his racing thoughts.

Pihu struggled beneath him, shouting, "Let me go, Rudra!" She attempted to push him away, but Rudra's deep voice resonated, "Pearl, just stay still, or I don't know what I will do to you." The command halted her struggles, a mixture of fear and curiosity in her eyes as she reluctantly complied.

After almost 15 minutes, Rudra calmed down and brought his face from Pihu's neck, locking eyes with her as if peering into her soul. He spoke in a serious tone, all his playfulness vanishing; "Now it's time to talk about your little stunt."

Pihu's heart quickened, her unease growing with the shift in atmosphere. She struggled to find words, but Rudra silenced her with a finger to her lips, his finger still on her lips as he said. "Shhh. Not a word. Do you realize what could have happened yesterday if I were even one minute late? And there are so many traps in that forest, set for enemies to be killed. What if you got killed by them."

He continued his voice cold, "Remember, Pearl, now you're a part of this world. Even if you manage to escape from me, you can't evade my dangerous world. Take your time to accept me, but understand that you are a part of my world now. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" By saying last line, he removed his finger from her lips.

Pihu flinched at his stern tone but nodded, acknowledging her predicament. Although she resisted accepting it, the truth in Rudra's words weighed heavily on her. Tear welled up in her eyes, her jaw tightening as she grappled with the reality.

Unsatisfied, Rudra pressed, "Words, Pearl." Meekly, Pihu uttered her voice hoarse as she is controlling herself from crying, "Yes."Rudra, still not fully convinced, probed further, "What do you understand, Pearl? Tell me."Rudra, his piercing gaze fixed on Pihu, awaited her response.

Pihu hesitated, choosing her words carefully in the charged atmosphere."I understand," she began tentatively, "that I can't escape your world. That even if I manage to leave physically, the shadows of it will linger. It's not just about you; it's about this... this world of danger and darkness you've pulled me into." Her last words dripped with sarcasm, a subtle defiance underlying her acknowledgment.

A sardonic smile twisted the corner of his mouth as he listened to Pihu's words. He was intrigued by her intelligence and defiance. She was not the kind of girl to go down without a fight."So, you understand that you can't escape," he said, his voice low and dangerous.

"But you're still going to try, aren't you?"Pihu met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "I will never give up because understanding doesn't mean acceptance, Rudra. And just because I comprehend your world doesn't mean I condone it." she said.

Rudra smiled again. "I like that," he said. "It's refreshing to meet someone who isn't afraid of me."He leaned in close, his breath warm on her cheek. "But be warned, Pearl," he whispered. "If you try to escape again, I won't be so merciful."

Pihu swallowed hard, but her gaze remained fixed on his. She knew that Rudra was ruthless, but she was not going to back down from him. Rudra pulled away and stood up. "I'll leave you to rest," he said. "But think carefully about what I've said."He turned and walked out of the room, leaving Pihu alone with her thoughts.

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To be continued.....